Men&#39;s supporter



Jan. 18, 1966 CREED 3,229,692

MEN'S SUPPORTER Filed May 22, 1964 FIG. 1. 2.

INVENTOR.

0mm 55 ,e, @2550,

ATTOE/ EYS,

Patented Jan. 18, 1966 3,229,692 MENS SUPPORTER Oaklee R. Creed, 815 S.College St, Waxahachie, Tex. Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,380 2Claims. (Cl. 128-153) This invention relates to a novel mens supporterfor bathing trunks, shorts, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a generallysuperior and more protective device of the kind indicated, which offersmore effective protection than fabric and similar material devices whenengaged in contact sports and the like; and which insures a moreacceptable appearance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simpler and moresanitary device of the character indicated above, which is adapted to befabricated of plastics or light weight metals, and which is adapted tobe worn as a free insert between the body of the wearer and tight trunksor shorts and the like, or secured in a suitable manner to the innersurface of the garment.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing bathing trunks, worn bya man, and equipped with a supporter of the present invention, shown inphantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the supporter;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the supporter, showing the same inrelation to the front of the trunks.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral generally designates apair of swimming trunks, and the numeral 12 a supporter, in accordancewith the present invention, secured in place behind the front panel 14of the trunks, and in contact with the wearers body.

The supporter 12, preferably formed of a single piece of plastic,comprises a vertically elongated and upwardly tapering receptacle 16, ofsubstantially semi-circular cross section, having a convex front surface18 and a concave rear surface 20. The receptacle 16 is formed of athickness or gauge or of material affording relatively gr at rigidity.

The receptacle 16, as shown in FIGURE 5 tapers also upwardly andrearwardly and has preferably straight side edges 22, which are normallyperpendicular. At its upper end, the wall of the receptacle is curvedupwardly and rearwardly to the side edges, so as to define a roundedconcave closure 24, for the upper end of the receptacle.

At the lower end of the receptacle 16 is formed a cup 26, which hasconvexly rounded side edges 28 which reach rearwardly beyond thestraight side edges 22. The cup 26 is designed to protectively receivethe wearers testicles, with the organ extending upwardly in thereceptacle 16. The side edges 28, as seen in FIGURE 4, are curvedlaterally inwardly toward each other, to a straight transversehorizontal edge 30, whereby the testicles are retained within the cup26.

Flat coplanar wings 32 extend laterally outwardly from the straight sideedges 22 of the receptacle 16, and extend downwardly from the upper endof the receptacle, as far as the cup 26. The wings are formed of athickness or gauge or of material affording relatively great flexibil yand resilience, as compared to the receptacle 16,

so as to provide for supportive conformance thereof to the contours ofthe body of the wearer at the opposite sides of the genitals. The Wings32 also serve to provide frictional contacts with the body of the wearerand with the inner surface of the trunks 10, which, in the case of theclose-fitting trunks 19, act to hold the supporter in place, as well asoffering additional protection to the body of the wearer, in the area ofthe genitals.

While the drawings show the supporter 12 in use as a free insert betweenthe wearers body and the front panel 14 of the trunks 10, it will beunderstood that the invention also contemplates any suitable securementor installation in the front panel of a nether garment.

The wings 32, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 are preferably both wider thanthe receptacle 1t), and share a common straight horizontal upper edge34, which intersects the upper end of the receptacle 16. The wings haveirregularly convexly curved side edges, which are composed of straightoutwardly and downwardly angled upper portions 36, convexly curvedintermediate portions 38, and straight, downwardly and laterallyinwardly angled lower portions 40.

The supporter 12 is readily kept in a sanitary condition, and where madeof plastic material, is desirably resistant to salt and other waterdamage, as well as corrosion, and tends to readily conform intemperature to the temperature of the body of the wearer, so that thewearer is not made conscious of its presence.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporter of the character described, comprising avertically-elongated rigid receptacle of substantially semicircularcross-section having opposite side edges and having a convex forwardsurface and a concave rear surface, said receptacle having an inwardlyand upwardlyextending portion at its lower end forming a cup thereon,and flexible and resilient wings extending laterally outwardly from theopposite side edges of the receptacle, said receptacle being formed witha rearwardly and upwardly curved concave-convex closure on its upperend, said wings being wider than the receptacle and having convexlycurved outer edges.

2. A supporter of the character described, comprising avertically-elongated rigid receptacle of substantially semicircularcross-section having opposite side edges and having a convex forwardsurface and a concave rear surface, said receptacle having an inwardlyand upwardlyextending portion at its lower end forming a cup thereon,and flexible and resilient wings extending laterally outwardly from theopposite side edges of the receptacle, said receptacle being formed witha rearwardly and upwardly curved concavo-convex closure on its upperend, said wings being wider than the receptacle and havingconvexly-curved outer edges extending from the upper end of thereceptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,275 9/1934Record 1 128- 158 2,283,684 5/1942 Matthews 128160 3,176,686 4/1965Barnes 128l32 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUPPORTER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING AVERTICALLY-ELONGATED RIGID RECEPTACLE OF SUBSTANTIALLY SEMICIRCULARCROSS-SECTION HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES AND HAVING A CONVEX FORWARDSURFACE AND A CONCAVE REAR SURFACE, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN INWARDLYAND UPWARDLYEXTENDING PORTION AT ITS LOWER END FORMING A CUP THEREON,AND FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT WINGS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THEOPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID RECEPTACLE BEING FORMED WITHA REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY CURVED CONCAVO-CONVEX CLOSURE ON ITS UPPEREND, SAID WINGS BEING WIDER THAN THE RECEPTACLE AND HAVING CONVEXLYCURVED OUTER EDGES.